Garment pressing machine



Oct; 27, 1953 c. M. CLARKE 2,656,627

GARMENT PRESSING MACHINE Filed Nov. 29, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet l &

ch n HI INVENTOR Clarehce M Clarke M M+ 1 1- ATTR 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 29, 1949 Fill/Ill mvsm'on Clarence M Clarke mm ATT Oct. 27, 1953 c. M. CLARKE GARMENT PRESSING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 29, 1949 M 9 w r S 0 0 a w u A l v J O fiQu o n 0 mm. 1 w a M 0 7 6 "mil 1. 7 W m? Patented Oct. 27, 1953 GARMENT PRESSING MACHINE Clarence M. Clarke, Syracuse, N. Y., assignor to United States Hoffman Machinery Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application November 29, 1949, Serial No. 130,030

7 Claims.

This invention relates to pressing machines, particularly fluid operated garment and laundry pressing machines in which a head pressing element is movable toward a garment supporting buck, and has for one of its objects the provision of a simple, dependable and safe actuating mechanism including a fluid motor, as a cylinder and a piston movable in the cylinder in two distinct stages at different degrees of fluid pressure to effect successively the closing of the press and then the application of heavy pressure between the head and buck. It is further an object of the invention to transmit power from the motor to the press head in two mechanical stages, respectively in action simultaneously with the said two stages of operation of the motor. A further object is to provide a press of the nature described effectively safeguarded against the possibility of the operator getting his hands between the pressing elements while heavy pressure is being applied.

A further object is to provide reliable pressure regulating means for the actuating fluid to the motor, thus to insure initially an adjustable minimum fluid pressure for motor operation and thereafter, at will, a further supply of pressure fluid at a selected higher pressure.

A still further object is to provide a regulating mechanism or the character described comprising simple and reliable means for automatically looking the regulating means in either its condition of initial or later selected adjustment, dependent upon the progressive manipulation and operation of the press.

Another object is the provision of a novel and simple control system, partly manual and partly automatic, for the attainment of the practical and safe operation of a press of the nature described.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Which represent one suitable embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the press in the closed position of the head in relation to buck;

Fig. 2 is a right side elevation thereof, partly broken away more clearly to show the head operating mechanism when in closed and locked position and after the application of heavy pressure;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of the operating part mechanism including the fluid pressure controlling valves and fluid pressure adjusting devices in operative relation to certain press head operating and operated parts, the press being in the position obtaining at the end of the first stage of motor operation.

Referring to the drawings it will be seen that the present garment press comprises a press head ll, adapted to swing downwardly into pressing relation with a fixed press element or buck 12. The head II is fixed to a yoke or head lever i 3, iulcrumed between its ends, as at 14, upon a press frame is. A link It pivotally connected at its upper end, as at IT, to the yoke l3 transmits motion to close the press. The press when closed to predetermined proximity with the buck is automatically locked in position, as will appear, and when released from its closed position will open under the reactive force of an opening spring it. In closing the press zero pressure is employed, i. e. the press head is initially closed under power suflicient only to overcome the tension of a head counterbalancing spring I9.

The lower end of link It pivotally supports a cam roller 20 movable, during the closing of the press, through two stages of a scroll earn 2!, mounted on the frame I5, which cam guides the movements of the lower end of the link. The cam roller 20 is carried by a cross head 22 of a singleacting reciprocating pneumatic or other fluid motor 23, comprising a cylinder 24 and a piston 25, the piston rod 26 of which is secured to crosshead 22.

, It is to be noted that the first or upright longer portion of the cam 2i is inclined to the horizontal about and the second or shorter upper portion, at an angle of about 5. Travel of the cam follower up the steep incline of the cam from position #1 to position #2 (Fig. 3) causes a rapid closing of the press with a minimum of pressure; while the slower movement of the roller over the upper wedge-like portion from position #2 to position #3 (Fig. 2) slowly transmits the final movement of the piston rod to the head H and develops heavy pressure between head and buck,

not only because of the advantage of the cam but also because this portion of the movement can only take place after the pressure of the air supply to the motor has been increased.

In order to protect the operator from injury, as when laying a garment between the pressure elements as they are brought together, power presses of the type described are usually provided with so-called two-hand control requiring the manipulation of a pair of complementary motor ts, j rack 45) I p a re'turnspri'ng 4e for plunger "50 movable in an adjustment lock cylinder 5|. Enough clearance is valves simultaneously in order to apply the final pressure of the motor to the press head.

It is natural and well known that the majority of press operators prefer to use one hand only to close the press, so that the operator may make his last minute adjustment in layingthe garment with his ether-hand, but this is often dangerous as the operators hand may be caught under the press head and be severely injured.

In the present press two-hand control of the kind just described is avoided and'eiiual or sup'e rior protection is had by the employment of the novel press operating control devices how to be described. 7 p

Referring again to the drawings, and particularly to Fig. 3 thereof, it is to be noted that air from a suitable pressure supply "(of approximately 604% p. s. i.) is brought to the press bye. main supply line directly to an adjustable pressure regulating valve 3!. Fro'rh valve 3| airunderinh uh aaiiiste'd-pr'essu re'ndws via branched conduits 'faane sa' to a manually controlled motor inlet fv'a "e32 and 'to a special l'ok'ihgi'val've 5%. Press regulating valve "3] "may be actuated by hand operated lever or handle 35 directly 'orin a prererieu'rh'ahpei by me ns of ahaimiev'eree having a s ri handle 31 which is positioned to the right at tp rro'rit rjtne'p're'ss. never as isfiir Llm'ed at 3}; on a pre ae ee"supported by the fr me 15 emails connected by link 49 at lever and to lever 35 at 4 2. h

Pressure regulating valve outletlines 33 and 53 arealways supplied Witha certain minimum adjusted pressure from line '36 (for example, 15

to 2013 s. i.') by manually setting an adjustment screw 3in the same man'ner as in 's'ta'ndardjpressure regulating valves. Lever "355 is normally biasedtoward closed position of valve 3! and toward s v r 3 by m an ,Qfe spfiiisffl- This minimum is the desired pressure-at which he motor 23 during the first wardly andinwardly siloping notch '41 on its'in'ner -pe'ripheral edge. The notch llisadapted to eng 'efa'fpin lfl projecting from "the side or'rever is. ii finally 'held'fa'gaiiist spin as "by awed 'etwe 'n theshould'eroffnotchtl'and'pin V "48t'o 7 permit sngmpi-essureadjustment by adjustm'ent serew ne.

*via adrriis'sidn 'valve '32 by downward pressure upon a hand lever 52. phragm locked intake-=exhaust valve of well This valve 32 is '9. diaknown construction having its intake port normally closedand =its exhaust port "normally open,

which valve is-provided with a diaphragm chamber12;8 which when supplied with fluid: pressure maintains the admission valve in open position, as will pi li he t ediu d-m nimu P -fsurein line '33 is passed to the motor by depressing lever 52" and opening valve 32 pressure fluid Her" 23 and via -the by-pass valve 55 tothe end of 6; movement of piston 25 to effect closing of the press. The press is also locked under this pres sure should the press elements come into close enough proximity to one another (about of an inch). Should the operator release valve control lever 52 before the locking point is reached the intake port of valve 32 will close and the exhaust will open, the air being then released from the .power cylinder. Under these conditions the press head will return to its open position under spring action.

After the press has been partially closed under pr ssure'and roller 20 has climbed to the top of the closing section of the cam (position #2) and the press heads have been brought together to the predetermined degree of proximity, the arrival hi the press head at this point will effect opening of the locking valve 34 through the upward movement or" a rod 59 pivotally connected at its upper end by adjustable means to the yoke 13, as shown, and pivotally connected-at its lower 'end at M to operating lever 62 of locking valve 34. The locking valve is thus opened, permitting passage of pressure fluid via conduit 33 through th'evalve to pipe line 53 leading to a cross-fitting 64. Between cross '64 and valve 31 is inserted a needle valve or other restricted orinee fitting 65. Valve 34 is similar in construction to valve 32, omitting the diaphragm chambenfl'fi of the latter.

When valve 34 is opened, as above described, "a restricted flow of fluid'from line 33 through needle valve 65 to the cross B4 occurs, whence the flow is branched byway of pipes "56,61 and 6'8.

The compressed air from line 66 will now to 'the diaphragm chamber 28 "of motoradmission va lve "32 to lock the 'valiie'inits open'motor-operative position and thus permit the operator to release the hand lever52, which will then remain in its depressed position. The compressed'air through line 68 willflow to look cylinder 5|, associated with regulating valve '3 I, causing the ra'ok'te'eth 46-to engage-and be held in any adjusted position by a spring pressed pawl'fifi mountedonpressur'e regulating valvelever' 35 to holdthat lever against return "from any adjusted pressureicontrolpos'ition to which'it may havebeen moved.

Norm'ally,the' regulating'valve will be depressed by manual operation'of lever 35 to provide "the desired degree of heavy pressure, 'less than line 32 whenever the press heads have closed to" a predetermined nearnesawhether the regulating valve3 l hasbeen adjusted :to heavy pressure or not. 7 v v WheneVer air 'from valve 34 enters cylinder 5 i it will cause piston 5i! to swing rack #5 50 the left, bringing the rack teeth Mi'into contaetwitn pawl 69 and releasing the.pin"48 'fromtheislot 41 to permit downwairl'movement 'oflever'ti' to effect "any desired degree of opening of valve "3 l The operator? may "now "depress the -lever 36 to cause the desired "higher "pressure to "be'delivered "to the'head and buck'e'lementsof the ipjfss'bec'ailise bressure air' will flow through hne 33 to the locked in pen position valve fi,

then through the latter to the power cylinder 23'causing the roller "to niovealong'the upper portion of cam 2 I, thus applying heavy pressure.

When pressure regulating valve lever 35 is released from manual pressure it will remain in its depressed position because pawl 69 is engaged with rack 45. The press will now remain closed under regulated high pressure as long as desired. However, lever 35 may be moved down at any time while in locked position, to attain more pressure.

Pipe line 61 leads to a normally closed exhaust valve '50 operated by a hand lever H. The compressed air from line 63 asses through branch line 61 to exhaust valve but without effect unless valve 10 be opened by depression of lever ll by the operator. Then the air will be exhausted from the diaphragm chamber 28 to cause closing of intake port of valve 62 and opening the exhaust port thereof. This action permits escape of air from cylinder 23, thus permitting the press to open. At the same time, the air from looking cylinder 5| will be released, return spring 49 will withdraw rack as from engagement with pawl 59, pressure regulating valve will return to normal position and pin 48 will relock in its inoperative or initial position.

The needle valve or restricted orifice in 63 is required because the capacity of release exhaust valve it must be greater than the supply of compressed air from line 63, thus permitting air from cylinder 51 and diaphragm chamber 28 of valve 32 to escape, regardless of the air pressure existing for the moment in line 63.

It will be understood, of course, that valve remains open as long as the press is locked in closed position.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention is well adapted to attain the aims and objects hereinbefore set forth and has many advantages arising from the particular manner of effecting the closing of the press by both fluid pressure and cam action, and by the controlled operation of the fluid motor and the cam roller under either light or heavy fluid pressure to attain alternatively either zero or any desired heavy pressure between the pressing elements of the press.

Although the invention has been described with considerable particularity in the foregoing specification and by reference to the accompany ing drawings, it must be understood that the invention is not limited to these specific details, but cover modifications coming within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

I claim:

1. In a garment press having cooperative pressing elements comprising a garment supporting buck and a relatively movable head carried by a yoke pivotally mounted with respect to said buck, in combination, a single cylinder fluid actuated motor having a reciprocating piston, motion transmitting mechanism comprising a cam follower and a link cooperatively connected with said piston and yoke to effect the closing of said elements, said piston being movable in two distinct stages under different degrees of fluid pressure, first to close said elements to a predetermined nearness and then to complete the movement thereof to apply heavy pressure to a treated garment, a normally closed and manually operable intake valve for said motor adapted to be locked by fluid pressure in open condition, a source of compressed air or other pressure fluid, pressure control mechanism including a regulating valve normally conditioned to supply fluid from said s'du'r'c'e': to said intake valve at a predetermined reduced pressure toclosethe press to said predetermined point, a normally closed locking valve connected to transmit fluid between said source and said intake valve and operably associated withsaid regulating valve and said intake valve and means operatively associated with said motion transmitting mechanism and operable in response to said near approach of said elements to effect operation of said locking valve to cause the intake valve to lock in open position, normally inoperable manual adjusting means for said pressure control valve and means rendering said adjusting means operable after the operation of said looking means to supply fluid at a selected higher pressure to said intake valve and motor, whereby the final closing of the press is accomplished under heavy pressure.

2. In a garment press having cooperative pressing elements comprising a garment support ing buck and a relatively movable head, in combination, a fluid motor for actuating said head, a pressure regulating mechanism including pneumatic locking means, an intake valve for supplying pressure fluid from said pressure regulating mechanism to said fiuidmotor and having a locking chamber, a press actuated valve connected to be operated in response to movement of said movable head, a supply conduit between said regulating valve and said press actuated valve, a discharge conduit for said press operated valve including pressure reducing means having a restricted passage therethrough, piping leading separately from said pressure reducing means to said pneumatic locking means of said regulating mechanism and to said locking chamber of said intake valve and also to a manually operated exhaust valve for releasing the operating fluid from the fluid motor, said exhaust valve having a discharge opening substantially larger in area than the restricted passage through said pressure reducing means.

3. A garment or laundry press comprising at frame, a presser arm pivoted intermediate its ends on said frame, a stationary pressing element. mounted on said frame, a movable pressing element mounted on said presser arm for coopera tive engagement with said stationary pressing el-- ement, a toggle member comprising an inextensible link and a longitudinally extensible fluid mo-- tor pivotally connected respectively to said. press-- er arm and said frame at their remote ends andi pivotally joined together at their adjacent ends; by means including a cam follower, a two-step: cam associated with said frame and said follower. adapted to guide said follower to close said press: elements into zero pressure engagement dur ing an initial operation of said motor and subsequently to close said press elements into heavy pressing engagement during a final operation of said motor, means for manually admitting fluid to said motor at an adjusted pressure sufficient to perform the said initial operation of said motor and other means for manually admitting fluid to said motor at a substantially higher adjusted pressure to perform the said final operation of said motor.

4.. In a garment press as in claim 1, in which cooperative means is provided, operable after the operation of said locking valve, to release said normally inoperable manual adjusting means anld permit manual operation of said regulating va ve.

5. In a garment press as in claim 1, in which said pressure control mechanism comprises an operating lever, detent means'normally holding said lever at a minimum pressure adjustment of said regulating valve, fluid pressure operated means operably associated with said locking valve to act, after the operation of said valve, to release said lever from said detent means, thereby to. permit manual adjustment of said lever to increase fluid pressure to said intake valve, and other detent means rendered operative upon the release of said lever to hold said lever and; valvein the said position of increased; pressure adjustment.

6. In a garment press as in claim 5, in. which said pressure control lever releasing means comprises a fluids pressure actuated plunger, means cooperative with said: plunger and said pressure;

control; lever tolock said; lever. in an adjusted reduced pressure position or in an adjusted: higher pressure position, means. normally biasing. said mechanism to the, first of said positions and conduit means. connecting said. plunger with said locking. valve whereby: upon operation of saidlockingv valve. to locksaid intake valve,- pressure fluid is made availableitd actuate said plunger.

7; In. a garment press in combination, coop:-

erative. pressing elements one of which i's' relaptively mnvablewwithe respect to theother' to press garments" laid therebetween, a" power actuator comprising: a single fluid cylinder and pistontherefor, a scroll cam having two cam follower guidingsectionsangularly displaced-with respect pressure to efiect inoviiient. of' thec'am to 81? to one another; rounder aperabiy assgei: ated with said piston-and said cam w transmi the power: from the motor t on'e "of said press elements to close the press rapidly during traverse 'oi the follower through theffi'rst s guiding section-of the cjain, a supply repress reiluid; pressure reducing means ndrfriallv adjusted to-supply fluid 'fio'nisaid source at a breasted mined reduced pressure to said eter winder to efiectmovement of thecairi follower through trie saiafirsssect qn crthcam and-inane 1voperated means for supplying t6 the pressure fluid frdiii said 's'duree at a fiigi'lif d justed pressure than said predae mm a rqu through the said 'secoiid semen crane-card by to apply heavy pressure -tewen the-pie elements, as a res ns both offth'inc ea plication' of 'iore-during the traverse-15;? tfi" .follower of said seco fid caifi portiom and by;

the increased adjusted pressure supplied to said cylinder. V

CBAR'ENCE GEARKEL 

